" Changes on Sugar Estates." 211 



more uniform sample, the old centrifugals being utilised 

 for curing second sugars, for which they are well adapted. 

 The conversion of condensing engines into high- 

 pressure, gave the planter the benefit of the back pres- 

 sure steam, which has been utilised in the working of the 

 juice-heaters, evaporators, triple effets, yaryans, and 

 vacuum pans, which are now on most estates in the 

 colony; and here it is time to show where the great 

 economy in steam and labour comes in. But before 

 doing so, I must mention a great improvement that was 

 introduced in, I think, about 1875, — the filter presses, 

 which certainly give at least 5 per cent, more sugar on a 

 ton, besides the great improvement in the distillery in 

 cleanliness, and a better return of rum. The improve- 

 ments and economy in steam and labour have been 

 eife6ted principally by the improved boilers now in 

 use — " multitubular furnace boilers'' — under which the 

 green megass is burned direft from the mills, instead of 

 the old lumbering waggon boilers, succeeded by the 

 compound and Lancashire. The old waggon boiler has 

 entirely disappeared, and the two latter are now only 

 used as auxiliary boilers. With these new boilers, and 

 by being able to use all the back pressure steam, came 

 the introdu6lion of triple and other effets, thus doing 

 away with the old copper wall or open batteries and 

 saving the large expense of keeping up logics, megass 

 carriers, boilermen on copper wall, and boxtop men, all of 

 which represented at least £2 a ton in the manufa6lory. 

 So far for the old boiling house as compared with the 

 triple and pan room of to-day ; and before going on to 

 the curing room, as it was called in 1865, I will touch 

 slightly on the improved crushing power. In 1878 Mr. 



